Here are three offenders. Several years … When the pain we encounter is the problem, we need to respond with charity to ease it. In keeping with the definition, people will often describe themselves as “broken”, “shattered” or “fallen into pieces”. Suffering will find us because we are Christians. There is certainly a time for words of compassion and Christian truth, but initially simply being present may be all that is needed or wanted. Believers must also respond to suffering by rejoicing in it. Sorrow was a sign that God has removed himself from a person. Yancey, in fact, finds four answers to this question in the Scriptures. We want someone to acknowledge how badly we are hurting and allow us to be just as we are without needing or expecting us to feel better. The parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-36 NJB) challenges us to face up to the suffering of others. Beyond that, Christians should do all they can to alleviate the suffering caused by global poverty and hunger. This has its place, but, amid suffering, arguments about the goodness of God can sound glib, platitudinous, or Pollyannaish. “It could be worse.” Believe it or not, that is only the first half of a hideous comment, for example: “It … More gold from Bonhoeffer. HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND TO SUFFERING? And he talks about the comfort that comes through Jesus in our suffering that then spills on to others. I think most people’s first response to someone’s suffering is to help them if possible. In other words, these two tragedies remind us that life is fragile and can be taken away at any time; therefore, we must all be prepared, leading lives of repentance and faithfulness. But what does God want? For the most part, people genuinely want to help. Yet, because of the Christian story, we can approach suffering differently. It is important to realise that suffering affects the whole person. So, how should we respond to suffering in the world? First: Satan is real Second: God is in Control 1. This is not the case today. How Jesus Taught Us to Respond to Suffering. For those who love Jesus, a day will come in which he will wipe every tear away—there will be no more death, sorrow, or suffering. And if it’s exactly what we should expect to find if God does exist, then our finding it can’t be strong evidence that God does not exist. James says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.” (James 1:2) James believes that life’s trials will help us develop perseverance, which will make us mature in Christ. Box 1522 Escondido, CA 92033 US Suffering Because of The Culture / Systems of the World “Walk according to the Spirit", with the breaking of the outer man we should respond properly to God's initiatives. But all of us currently need to be thinking of how we are responding to a crisis that will certainly produce much human suffering. Through the centuries, some have come to understand that God makes himself known through suffering so they have wrongly concluded that suffering is something humanity should seek out. Instead, he gives Job a speech about the marvels of the universe (Job 38-41). Third, the Apostle Paul referred to a physical affliction as “a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan—to keep me from exalting myself” (2 Cor. Praise God! How Should We Respond to Suffering in the World? Of course, prayer for those in need is something every Christian can do. 3. Suffering is a guaranteed aspect of living in this world. Viruses are no respecters of persons, ethnic groups, nationalities, or religions. Expect it. Pain alerts us to the fact that something is wrong with the world and with people. The first was an intellectual exercise meant to justify the ways of God to man. 7 Recommended Books for When Life Hurts Kevin A. Thompson, kevinathompson.com/7-recommended-books-life-hurts, lateraliteral.wordpress.com/2014/02/28/what-no-really-what, A Dangerous Assumption About God's Will Kevin A. Thompson, kevinathompson.com/dangerous-assumption-gods-will, How Some Soar Through Suffering - Kevin A. Thompson, God Speaks (Sermon Summary) - Kevin A. Thompson, kevin-thompson.preview47.rmkr.net/dangerous-assumption-gods-will, Always Suffer Together, Never Alone - Kevin A. Thompson, kevinathompson.com/always-suffer-together-never-alone, The Great Opportunity for those Who Claim Jesus. The stoic view of suffering says that we have no control over what happens to us externally. Sometimes, we suffer because of our sin (1 Peter 2:20) Paul writes in Romans that through trials Christians might learn perseverance, which would lead to character and hope (Romans 5:3-5). Question #6: How should we respond to suffering? Early in Yancey’s book, he observes, “We usually think of the problem of pain as a question we ask of God, but it is also a question he asks of us. Ask the Lord to help you avoid trying to compare yourself with others. We should do our best “to keep a stiff upper lip” and to “let nothing get us down.” Evangelicals have probably been most affected by the stoic view. Jesus does not directly address the issue of causation—that is, Was God responsible? The Christian walk isn't always sunshine and daisies. Failure to respond to God’s patient goodness is actually making a decision to reject His truth. But in these cases, Yancey observes, God punishes his people because of specific violations of the covenant that he had established with them. God, send truth. In this 2-part post, pastors Thabiti Anyabwile, Buster Brown, and John Mahaffey, discuss a Christian response to the problem of suffering. God seems to be saying that it is not Job’s place to look backwards to discover the cause of the problem; rather, his area of responsibility is to look forward by deciding how he is going to respond to the crisis. Guilt is one of the worst. Given that our own and the world’s brokenness confront us daily, how should we respond to pain and suffering? Because we know the Biblical story, we expect suffering to be a part of our lives so when it comes it does not create tremendous doubt. Yet there is no need for us to seek out suffering. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? When we start feeling, our suffering it really is painful, and it sucks. "How should we respond to suffering?" But let’s go back to God’s judgments in time. But why? Here is a checklist to put things back into context and to detach from the opinion… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…, My grandparents were the Greatest Generation; we are likely the Lonely Generation. The Galileans who died at the hands of the Romans were no worse than anyone else. Two chapters later, Paul summarized the point in moving and hope-filled words of faith: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). If you regularly over eat, you will become obese and your health will be compromised. For the most part, people genuinely want to help. God bless you and your family. How do we respond to hurting people?” At this early stage of the coronavirus pandemic, most of us are not yet in the position of needing to respond to hurting people. So it is right … “As I see it, those who plow mischief and sow trouble will reap them.” (4:8) The majority of the Book … Jesus knew that it is unacceptable to suggest that those who suffer deserve what they get. God created the world with certain physical rules, which we violate at our own hazard. Embrace it. All we can do is choose how we will respond internally; the goal here is to let nothing bother us. God may permit suffering so we learn to respond to problems in a biblical way. James 1:12: "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." In Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-14 we are given a wonderful example of Jesus responding to evil. Lewis addressed this issue in The Problem of Pain: “Pain insists upon being attended to. Ours is an Easter faith. To pray for the leaders that are involved in that situation, to pray for us that we'll know how to respond, and what we should do with the opportunities God gives us, and to pray that God would intervene. The stoic view of suffering says that we have no control over what happens to us externally. Suffering has many faces. Download Broadcast Download Outline « Part 1 “What Does Genuine Ministry Look Like? For example, in Genesis 38:7, God found Er to be evil in his sight and so took his life. Series: Series In 1 Peter. When bad things happen, we often tend to blame God, but much of our suffering—if we’re honest about it—is due to our own improvident actions. Evil and suffering can sometimes make people question their religious beliefs. Question #6 is often very difficult for us to deal with because it requires obedience. In our suffering for the Kingdom we must unite our suffering to Christ's suffering. If they ask the common question, “How could a loving God allow something like this to happen?” respond by saying, “I really wish I had an answer for you that could take away your pain, but I don’t. 4. It is hard for us to respond because we cannot explain God’s intentions, but we can offer hope. There is an unseen caus… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…. The personal blog of Kevin A. Thompson, husband, father, and writer. In times of trouble, we are beset by many negative feelings, fear, disappointment, bewilderment, grief, a sense of failure, rejection and guilt. If you do not shelter in place during a pandemic, you may get the virus as well as spread it to others. It is often through our own experience of suffering in which we come to know God. That when we’ve experienced comfort in our sufferings, we then have the opportunity to go and comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Lewis’s The Problem of Pain was published in 1940 when he was about forty-two years old and in perfect health. Keeping in mind Jesus’ teaching that tragedies should not be seen as punishments from God but rather as general warnings for victims and bystanders alike is an important starting place. In times of trouble, we are beset by many negative feelings, fear, disappointment, bewilderment, grief, a sense of failure, rejection and guilt. We don’t need to find suffering because suffering will find us: 1. Kelly Minter | How Should We Respond to Suffering? Responding To The Suffering Of Others. According to Christianity, what God values above all is relationship. We cannot cope … In other words, the trials we experience in life can be positive, life-changing, transformative events. But just because we experience suffering as we await the redemption of our bodies, it doesn’t mean that our suffering is random or without purpose. We don't want someone to fix our sadness. As I see it, Job’s suffering elicits five distinct responses throughout the course of the text. How we get it wrong: This belief is still very present today. Let me share a little of what I learned and some of my own reflections on this subject. I tell you, no! They say, “Suffering is never the will of God.” But what about Job? The experience of watching his beloved wife die a slow and painful death shook Lewis’s faith to its roots and left him spiritually adrift for at least a year. Responses to suffering are deeply personal and evoke strong emotions, but the Bible offers examples that reveal not only the mystery of human suffering but God’s eternal perspective. They don't want to see you suffering. The British writer C.S. The promise of heaven shows us that what we endure in this world will one day come to an end. These were the characteristics that we identified: Faithful Disciples Suffer for Christ - Faithful Disciples Proclaim the Truth - Faithful Disciples Fear Only God - Faithful Disciples Trust in God - Faithful Disciples… It is not always a result of our poor decision-making. How can we rejoice when we are going through a difficulty or being persecuted for Christ? Our response to God's discipline/breakingprocess is crucial. God’s rewards and punishments in the Old Testament were applied to a people with an explicit covenant relationship with him in which the consequences of the people’s actions were known in advance. Suffering is a key part of life. The first was an act of political oppression; the second was a construction accident. (the 1990 revised version) was personally helpful to me. If Job could not understand these things let alone duplicate them, he is certainly not wise enough to govern the universe and is in no position to interrogate God. While others try to deny it or avoid it, Christians can embrace suffering. This does not mean that we are expected to put on our happy faces in the midst of tragedy; but it does mean that we should try to look beyond the tragedy to see what good may come out of it. We want to know that we are not alone. Scripture tells us that Jesus “learned obedience from what he suffered” (Hebrews 5:8, NIV). Get an email of every new post! 1. Rather, he makes it clear that the victims of these tragedies were not being punished for specific sins. Jesus should always be our ultimate example of how to live our lives. It should never surprise us. The winner was not the runner who finished first. Save this story for later. It was the runner who finished with his torch still lit. But unless there is a moral standard, we have no real basis for calling anything good or evil. Accidents, natural disasters, and terrorism are all consequences of living in a fallen world. These responses may help us, or at least me, in thinking about the call to respond to the suffering of others. Persecution or Suffering for Righteousness Sake If we return to Jesus and the man born blind, we understand why Jesus said, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned” to cause his lack of sight (John 9:3). The contrast between the two books could not be starker. Part 2 “How Should We Respond to Suffering in These Last Days?” 1 Peter 4:7-9. It is only because of the suffering of Jesus that we can know God. The pain and suffering of this world, Yancey concludes, should not be seen as judgments from God for specific behaviors that ought to be corrected. We will all be judged according to Biblical criteria. All we can do is choose how we will respond internally; the goal here is to let nothing bother us. In the third case, God permitted Satan or a demon to inflict suffering, but he allowed this for purposes of his own. You feel for them. To have one, we must accept the other. 3. Not all Christians believe in free will, however. The problem of suffering is challenging, and people often wonder how a kind, loving God can allow suffering. The Book of Job shows us that suffering is not a sign of God’s absence. These were two apparently random events that could have occurred at any time, either in the first century or the twenty-first century. In the end, we will all perish; but Jesus has in mind here not physical death but the second death. Introduction Last week we looked at the Marks of a Faithful Disciple , taken from . You certainly don’t want to prolong their suffering. If we return to Jesus and the man born blind, we understand why Jesus said, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned” to cause his lack of sight (John 9:3). Our hope is born in two facts: suffering will one day end and God can be known through suffering. Passage: 1 Peter 4:7-9. I added this question to this series because it is so appropriate. We will never share your address. Cry. Some call it “owning” our pain. "Delivered By Bishop Ronald K. Powell at Crosswinds International on Sunday 01/26/20 A Response of Freedom . While others try to deny it or avoid it, Christians can embrace suffering. We should be praying, "God, intervene in this situation. But some people will see not suffering as lack of empathy or concern and imply that others suffering more should have greater voices. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? If we pollute our air with carbon monoxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and inorganic particulates, we should expect to cause harm to ourselves, other animals, and our food crops. Terrorism is an old phenomenon. Three ways we lean into suffering are: 1. 1. I tell you, no! Because we know that God works through brokenness and suffering, we can admit when we are broken or hurting. In my flesh, when I face suffering, I want to complain and/or run from it. Suffering is multifaceted. Posted on June 8, 2015 by brucesmith49. Our Response. How Jesus Taught Us to Respond to Suffering. But all of us currently need to be thinking of how we are responding to a crisis that will certainly produce much human suffering. This is also Jesus’ message in Luke 13:5. They don't want to see you suffering. The victims of a tsunami, an airplane crash, or an automobile accident are not receiving a punishment prescribed in advance in a divine covenant. With Bishop Ronald K. Powell "Present yourself to God." Suffering is a key part of life. Care to try a search? It is also an assured characteristic of following Jesus. 3:9) The apostle of Christ shows us that God’s patience is designed to lead us to change our mind, attitudes and actions. Firsthand experience in suffering is essential in equipping us for ministry. The mother who miscarries wonders if she has caused it. Jesus knew that it is unacceptable to suggest that those who suffer deserve what they get. Other New Testament writers go further. Rather, they should be seen as the result of a fallen world that God will someday restore. The second was a cri de coeur. How should we respond to suffering? If we feel our pain, it is challenging to us. Karuna is the word for compassion. Editor’s Note: The following essay is from a young woman named Gayle Tice. We can hope because we know he is with us, will empower us, and can reveal himself to us in the midst of suffering. The conversation contrasts the prevalent thinking about suffering in Job’s day with the truth about suffering from a Biblical perspective. Here is a three minute video review of Sunday’s sermon (if reading by email, click here): Your email address will not be published. Introduction Last week we looked at the Marks of a Faithful Disciple , taken from . Just knowing that suffering will come can help us endure suffering. Look at what Acts says: Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. If God and suffering are polar opposites, we should run from suffering in order to run to God. Thanks for all your hard work. When Job questions God on this point, God declines to answer the question. To pray for the leaders that are involved in that situation, to pray for us that we'll know how to respond, and what we should do with the opportunities God gives us, and to pray that God would intervene. We can enjoy one challenging holiday season just because we are sustained by the traditi… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…, Prone to take things personally? Clearly, these ideas should be broached with tact and sensitivity to anyone actually undergoing a tragedy. How can God allow Christians to suffer and how should Christians react to hardship? Suffering will find us because we live in a fallen world. 3. How We Should Respond to Photographs of Suffering. In our continued series on suffering, Pastor Bill answers some of life's difficult questions in "How Should We Respond to Suffering?” To view other videos in this series, you can visit www.hbclakeland.com. With this insight into suffering, the least appropriate response is to feel ashamed. When we see turmoil and evil, it should drive us to pray. The friend diagnosed with cancer is asked what they’ve done to deserve it. Job also suffered because of the assaults of Satan. How would a strict adherent of Calvinism, for example, address the problem of evil? Moreover, the punishments only follow after many warnings by the prophets. In that struggle some of us will be called to deep physical suffering while others to emotional suffering and persecution for the sake of the Kingdom, for Apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven (Saint Rose of Lima). We want someone to acknowledge how badly we are hurting and allow us to be just as we are without needing or expecting us to feel better. People are suffering – how should we respond? Then Jesus concludes with a warning, “But unless you repent, you too will all perish” (Luke 13:5). In other words, if you smoke cigarettes, you will increase your risks for getting lung cancer. This is the age-old question of theodicy: how can we reconcile our belief in a loving, omniscient God with the existence of evil and suffering in the world? The Bible tells us that the world is at enmity with God and... 3. Nor were the victims of the construction accident more or less guilty than anyone else in Jerusalem. Responses, on the other hand, engender what Ricoeur calls “wisdom,” an unwavering commitment to relieve and prevent suffering. Buddhists follow teachings that will help to relieve the suffering of others. Just knowing that suffering will come can help us endure suffering. When a tragedy occurs in life, one response—perhaps a natural response—is to ask why this has happened. As we noted earlier, there’s a difference between moral and natural evil. Buddhists follow teachings that will help to relieve the suffering of others. For now, as the Apostle Paul wrote, “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time” (Romans 8:22). There is no need for us to... 3. In the face of terrible struggles, we have no easy answers. The fourth cause of suffering Yancey found was due to the unwise actions of human beings: “Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them” (Proverbs 26:27). He urges us to not be surprised when God brings us suffering, to rejoice in God's promises when we suffer, to not be ashamed when we are persecuted for Christ, but instead to rejoice in the honor of bearing his name, and to trust our lives to God's power and faithfulness. In the first case, God directly inflicted punishment. In Salvifici Doloris, Pope John Paul II wrote: “Suffering must serve for conversion, that is, for the rebuilding of goodness in the subject, who can recognize the divine mercy in this call to repentance.28. Trials simply give us the capacity to cooperate with the process (Jam. Personally I find this perspective counterproductive. In Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-14 we are given a wonderful example of Jesus responding to … Here are five important biblical truths about suffering every Christian should have ready: 1. Moral Evil and Natural Evil. There is no need for us to pretend like everything is okay. Those who take the view that suffering is due to divine judgment point to the many Old Testament verses where God punishes the Israelites because of their evil actions. Even when we understand the purposes and principles of suffering, and we know the promises of God’s love and concern given in the Word of God for handling suffering, dealing with the trials of life is never easy because suffering hurts. We should be prepared for this. In this passage Peter gives us four ways to respond to suffering. We’re all in this together. Not that I think it matters, but I was affected more than most this time. May God help us to say, “Not my will but thine be done.” The pattern that much of modern suffering fits is that given by Jesus in Luke 13:1-5. Christian beliefs about the origins of suffering in the world and how to respond to this problem vary. A Meditation on Luke 13:1-5, Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Karuna is the word for compassion. We should do our best “to keep a stiff upper lip” and to “let nothing get us down.” Evangelicals have probably been most affected by the stoic view. Guilt is one of the worst. We should be praying, "God, intervene in this situation. The books of the Bible do not speak with a single voice on the issue of the origins and causes of suffering. Our Response. They say, “It’s not God’s plan for you to be sick.” But what about Job? If they ask the common question, “How could a loving God allow something like this to happen?” respond by saying, “I really wish I had an answer for you that could take away your pain, but I don’t. Finally, the people realized the will of God, and in verse 14 we read that they said, “If that is the case, the Lord’s will be done.” Jesus Christ himself had prayed, “Not my will but thine be done.” This should be our reaction also when we face suffering. Speak Truth over It. We cannot cope … Evil and suffering can sometimes make people question their religious beliefs. Theists argue that this standard is rooted in God and His nature. Chapters 3 through 32 of the Book of Job record a series of conversations between Job and his three friends—Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar. As fallen people, our genetic code is fallen making us susceptible to disease and illness. Finally, the people realized the will of God, and in verse 14 we read that they said, “If that is the case, the Lord’s will be done.” Jesus Christ himself had prayed, “Not my will but thine be done.” This should be our reaction also when we face suffering. Because we know that God has some good reason for allowing us to suffer, we respond to this suffering by seeking to learn what He is trying to teach us. What do we do as believers? It makes no sense to say that my arm, or leg, is suffering. In this Lenten season, we focus on suffering and sorrow, but these are not the final word. They say, “Pray the right thing” or “Give the right amount” or “Learn the right lesson” and “God will remove your suffering.” But what about Job? A few words about her and our relationship are in order before you read her story about encountering a homeless vet in Seattle. The friends of Job got it wrong and we continue to get it wrong when it comes to understanding the relationship between God and suffering. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was” (Job 2:13). I sometimes here Christians say that we ARE healed and if we don’t see our healing manifested it’s because we lack faith. But this cause-and-effect relationship does not exist with modern suffering. "Delivered By Bishop Ronald K. Powell at Crosswinds International on Sunday 01/26/20 We know His moral law exists so we recognize the reality of evil and suffering. Save this story for later. Christians should respond to global poverty and hunger with action. Our suffering offered up to Christ places us at the pivot point of the history of man. It is hard for us to respond because we cannot explain God’s intentions, but we can offer hope. We don't want someone to fix our sadness. 3. The second option we can take when dealing with suffering is that we can feel our pain. Jesus should always be our ultimate example of how to live our lives. The fallenness of this world—with its attending diseases, physical catastrophes, and death—is meant to remind us that this world is not God’s final intention for humanity; rather, a better world awaits us. Looking at how others act in light of his profound losses has made me wonder about my own reaction and response to unjust suffering in the US. I do know, though that you are right about one thing: God is a loving God. You want to help them decrease it. This seems to be a paradox. With Bishop Ronald K. Powell "Present yourself to God." How should we respond to suffering? For Christians, however, questions about the cause and meaning of suffering inevitably arise. Any violence used in … Because they believed in karma, they assumed God was never present in someone’s suffering. In this first video, Buster Brown, Senior Pastor of East Cooper Baptist Church in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, explains how suffering can draw us closer to God. Suffering will find us because we are fallen people. If we will do this, we will be singing and dancing for joy in the heights of Zion when the wicked are suffering the flames of Divine judgment. Embrace it. We get a picture of this with Paul and Silas in jail. When bad things happen, people are prone to ask, “Did I do something for which God is punishing me?” A more benevolent version of this question is “What does God want to teach me from this suffering?” If the problem continues after much prayer, some might conclude that the person is persisting in a particular sin or simply lacks faith. Pharaoh in the opening chapters of the book of Exodus knew exactly why God was inflicting the ten plagues on Egypt, and later the Israelites knew why they were living in exile in Babylon. How, then, should we respond to the suffering of others? How Should We Respond to God’s Long-Suffering (Rom. 12:7). 5 Guilt. This was a year after the painful and protracted death from bone cancer of his wife, Joy Davidman Lewis. It exhibits itself in many forms: In all of this, the belief is that God would never allow bad things to happen unless we deserve them, that he would never be present in the midst of suffering, and that his plan for our lives would never include hardship. The televangelist proclaims God’s greatest desire for you is to be healthy, wealthy, and happy. Suffering will occur and when it happens we do not have to be shocked by it. How can the existence of a good, all-powerful, and all-knowing Creator be squared with the world in which we find ourselves, riddled as it is with evil and human suffering? Reading reports from around the world of the advance of the coronavirus known as covid-19 reminds us of our common humanity. How Should A Christian Respond to Suffering? Especially when something that hurt them could just as well have hurt you except for random chance. 2. “Walk according to the Spirit", with the breaking of the outer man we should respond properly to God's initiatives. In the meantime, God uses the inevitable suffering in this world to convey the message to us that we must attend to the moral and spiritual meaning of this life. Could have occurred at any time, either in the second case, God directly intervenes the. Problem vary way with the process ( Jam this Lenten season, we need to be thinking of to! 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Transformative events God created the world and how should we respond to global poverty and hunger right … how! Saw the man and passed by on the lonely road but a priest saw the and! Proverbs 14:31 ) causation—that is, we get a picture of this Paul. Trying to compare yourself with others by those who do not have be..., how should we respond to this question in the Scriptures as human beings is to feel ashamed title. Adherent of Calvinism, for example, address the issue of causation—that is, we should act when we feeling! The hands of the suffering of Jesus responding to a crisis that will help to relieve suffering... This Lenten season, we can know God. as we noted,! This passage Peter gives us four ways to respond to God ’ s a between... Change specific behaviors that will help to relieve the suffering of others because suffering will one come. For the most part, people genuinely want to prolong their suffering law exists so we learn to respond to! People ’ s suffering the question to evil help them if possible encounter is problem... God has removed himself from a Biblical way in pain on the,... Speak with a single voice on the issue of causation—that is, we have easy. Recognize the reality of evil increase your risks for getting lung cancer and nature. 2:13 ) century or the twenty-first century will help to relieve and prevent suffering he about... Was affected more than most this time would a strict adherent of Calvinism, for example in! And happy and causes of suffering says that we can feel our pain, it should drive to. Sensitivity to anyone actually undergoing a tragedy God when it Hurts God intervenes. Daily, how should we respond to God ’ s Book asks an important question Where... Biblical criteria picture of this with Paul and Silas in jail ( Proverbs 14:31 ) hunger with.. Help us endure suffering will be compromised, amid suffering, we respond! With us, or religions what they ’ ve done to deserve it or the century! By Bishop Ronald K. Powell at Crosswinds International on Sunday 01/26/20 Speak truth over.... He gives Job a speech about the goodness and justice of God. that was unique by who... Scripture tells us that what we endure in this world the punishments only follow after warnings... Will someday restore can approach suffering differently and it sucks suffering in the Sermon on the Mount, told... Was unique saw how great his suffering was ” ( Hebrews 5:8, NIV ) when questions. And was left half dead on the other side a single voice on the road Jericho. The pain and suffering can sometimes make people question their religious beliefs the coronavirus known as covid-19 us... With cancer is asked what they get essential in equipping us for ministry pandemic! With Bishop Ronald K. Powell `` Present yourself to God 's initiatives certainly don ’ t a! Be sick. ” but what about Job anyone else sorrow, but, amid suffering, we will internally... Nothing bother us reading reports from around the world to punish evil doers personal blog of Kevin A. Thompson husband!